How to make frozen lingonberry juice for the winter: TOP 10 recipes

Lingonberry juice is often used in folk medicine to treat various ailments. There are several recipes for making the invigorating lingonberry drink known as mors. However, the principle of making a lingonberry drink is the same, except for the cold method.

Cooking Features

You can make a lingonberry drink using either fresh or frozen berries. This healing recipe can also be enhanced by adding additional ingredients, such as cranberries, lemon, and honey. Adding citrus to the drink enhances its already healing properties.

To preserve the beneficial vitamins, the berries are juiced before cooking. The pulp can be boiled, and the lingonberry concentrate can be added to the finished drink.

Sugar is considered unhealthy, but natural honey can enhance the healing properties of fruit drink. It can be added after the fruit drink is divided into individual glasses. The key is to avoid boiling the honey, which will preserve its properties.

It's worth knowing: in winter, it's best to drink lingonberry juice warm to prevent colds, and in summer, chilled with ice cubes.

Preparing the main ingredient

What is required:

1. The main ingredient in this drink is lingonberries. Unwashed berries can be stored for a long time, but if washed, they are best used immediately. Before boiling, remove the leaves and soak them in warm water for 15 minutes.
2. If you bought lingonberries at the market, it's best to soak them in water for half an hour. Berries you picked yourself don't need to soak.
3. It's also worth noting that lingonberry juice should only be squeezed into a plastic or glass container. It's not recommended to use metal containers, as the acid in the berries will react with the metal.

Cranberry juice recipes

All methods for preparing lingonberry drinks are similar. They differ only in the addition of different ingredients. However, every experienced home cook should be able to prepare this drink using several proven methods.

From fresh lingonberries for the winter

Delicious lingonberry juice will help boost your immune system during the winter and also offer a vibrant taste experience. Drink it as a preventative measure or offer it to guests on special occasions.

To achieve a moderately sweet and tart flavor, you'll need 4 cups of lingonberries, 300 grams of granulated sugar, and distilled water. This amount makes one three-liter jar.

Preparation of fruit drink:

1. The berries are juiced, placed in a saucepan, and covered with cold water. Bring the liquid to a boil and remove from the heat; the berries don't need to be cooked for long. Sugar is added.
2. Squeezed lingonberry extract is poured into a jar. The water and berries are strained through a sieve.
3. Add the strained liquid to the juice in the jar. Seal the fruit drink with metal lids.

From frozen lingonberries

A sweet and tart drink from childhood, often prepared by mothers for their children to boost their health during the cold season. To prepare this healing fruit drink, you will need the following ingredients for three liters of water: 270 grams frozen fresh lingonberries, 10 tablespoons of granulated sugar.

Recipe:

1. Pour water into a deep saucepan, bring to a boil, and add sugar. Be sure to taste the water to ensure it's sweet enough.
2. Place the berries in a bowl and let them thaw. Then, puree them using a masher or blender.
3. Pour half the sugar water into a separate saucepan and stir in the resulting lingonberry puree. Stir thoroughly and strain. Pour this liquid into the saucepan with the remaining water.

The amount of berries or sugar can be increased or decreased depending on individual preferences.

From lingonberries and cranberries

A delicious cranberry and lingonberry drink will help quench your thirst in the summer heat. You can make it healthier by adding honey and ginger root.

To make lingonberry-cranberry juice, you'll need the following ingredients: 160 grams of cranberries and lingonberries in equal proportions (1:1), 170 grams of sugar, 2 liters of water, a tablespoon of flower honey, and a 1-centimeter piece of ginger. This drink is considered low-calorie (43 kilocalories per 100 grams).

Preparation of fruit drink:

1. Place sugar and ginger in a saucepan and pour boiling water over them.
2. You can puree the berries by hand or in a blender. Place them in a sieve, reserving only the juice. Add the squeezed berries to the sugar water and bring to the boil.
3. Bring the liquid to a boil and remove from the heat. Combine it with the juice, stir, and add a spoonful of honey.
4. The fruit drink can be cooled at room temperature and then placed in the refrigerator to cool completely.

No-cook recipe

You can make lingonberry juice using the cold method, without heat. This way, the drink preserves all the beneficial properties of the berry. For 1 liter of water, use one cup of lingonberries and 100 grams of granulated sugar. You can also add a little lemon juice and a tablespoon of honey to the drink.

Recipe:

1. The washed berries need to be chopped with a blender or by hand using cheesecloth.
2. Mix the resulting mixture with clean water (store-bought bottled water is fine). Stir well, let it steep for 20 minutes, and strain the berries from the water.
3. Place the sugar and two tablespoons of water in a small saucepan. Place over low heat. When the sugar dissolves and begins to caramelize, remove from the heat. Pour it into the clarified berry liquid. Mix thoroughly.
4. You can add a spoonful of honey to the fruit drink and squeeze the juice from a couple of lemon slices. Refrigerate the drink until completely chilled.

Storing fruit drinks

It's recommended to store the product in non-metallic containers that won't oxidize. Homemade fruit drink should be stored in a cool place, such as the refrigerator. The drink's beneficial properties can last for up to 24 hours.

Important: the shelf life of fruit drink in sealed jars increases significantly – up to two years.

In a sealed container, where bacteria cannot penetrate, the drink perfectly retains its flavor. An opened can be stored for no more than 24 hours.

Conclusion

Simple recipes for making lingonberry juice will help maintain your health during the cold season. This aromatic and refreshing drink will take you back to childhood, when beloved mothers and grandmothers made it using exactly the same methods described above.